If you're like me and live in the land of the north, and like to hunt and trek in the winter, you have no doubt taken a "Moccasin slide ride". and to be frank...
It sucks.
So in a way to find a way that was at least primative but probably not period..I took some rope(hemp if you could afford it)but I got it at the H-D. take the rope 8 ft of it and start at where the base of the big toe bends and where the little toe bends and wrap the rope from the top down and cross the rope under the sole of the foot. keep wrapping around till just enough is left to go around the ankle and tie. in the snow its not the best and you will need to play a little to get it right but it works and just maybe in the colonial days someone did the same as me. Happy trails.

[quote]I got the fastest horse, surest rifle,prettiest gal,ugliest dog. My ol' man could lick any man in the country and I could lick my ol' man.I can out grinn a mountain lion,out wrestle a grizzly bear,ride a lighting bolt and tote a steam boat on my back. Nimrod Wildfire . the way I heard to make your moc better grippers on ice was to brush them with a stiff brush from side to side , seems to work

[quote="Jason"]If you're like me and live in the land of the north, and like to hunt and trek in the winter, you have no doubt taken a "Moccasin slide ride". and to be frank...
It sucks.
So in a way to find a way that was at least primative but probably not period..I took some rope(hemp if you could afford it)but I got it at the H-D. take the rope 8 ft of it and start at where the base of the big toe bends and where the little toe bends and wrap the rope from the top down and cross the rope under the sole of the foot. keep wrapping around till just enough is left to go around the ankle and tie. in the snow its not the best and you will need to play a little to get it right but it works and just maybe in the colonial days someone did the same as me. Happy trails.

Boozhoo, I find that my moccasins grip better when they are wet, at least on grass. You method of wrapping light rope/small stuff around your moccasins sounds like a very period way. That is what experimental archaeology is all about. The product was available, and through your experiences, you decided to try this method. Well done.
Le Loup.

After many years of winter living and treking, the best method of footwear treatment i have found for snow and ice is to attach a peice of hair on hide to the bottoms of my mocasins. My buddy attached buffalo hide to his regular moc's (hair side down) and he could not be happier. no slips or slides at all. I made a pair of caribou over boots to wear with my moc's, They have a outer soul of hair down hide attached. Again no slip or slide on the ice or snow and very good traction in deep snow as well. The added warmth is fantastic and the hair does not absorb moisture if kept cold. This is well worth the effort.

The hair-on moc. sole additions works very well. I use some sheep skin, with the wool out, and it is great. Also, since necessity is the mother of invention, I have no doubt at all, that some fellow put rope around his mocs. The snow is over here in Arkansas, but I will try the rope method.

Hmmm, I like Loyalist Dave's idea. Now why the devil didn't I think of that? I should have, though, because my good wife has wooden shoes, and she had me put hobnails in them ( yes, they did that, and still do ) after she slipped and fell on her bun last winter on our own sidewalk.